What Is POS Signage (And How to Manage It Across Every Location)

Introduction

POS signage is more than just paper in a window. For franchise and multi-location brands, it’s the final layer of your marketing campaign—the part customers actually see.

But getting POS signage into the right locations, in the right format, with the right message? That’s where most brands struggle.

At IRIS Strategic Marketing Support (IRIS), we make POS signage rollout consistent, targeted and trackable. GearBox® by IRIS is the system that handles signage customization, routing and fulfillment—store by store.

What Is POS Signage?

POS signage stands for Point of Sale signage. It includes any branded or promotional material placed at or near the point of purchase, like counters, walls or entrances.

Examples include:

• Table tents
  
  
• Window decals
  
  
• Menu inserts
  
  
• Countertop signs
  
  
• Checkout clings
  
  
• Seasonal signage for promotions or LTOs
  
  

POS signage helps influence customer behavior right at the decision point—whether it's placing an order or checking out.

POS vs. POP: What's the Difference?

While they’re often used interchangeably, POS (Point of Sale) and POP (Point of Purchase) have subtle differences:

• POS signage is placed at the register or counter—where the purchase is completed
  
  
• POP signage can appear throughout the store—like endcaps, floor displays or product shelves
  
  

GearBox® by IRIS manages both—but POS signage typically requires more targeted customization and fulfillment accuracy due to its visibility and timing.

Common POS Signage Challenges in Multi-Location Marketing

1. No System for Assigning Signage by Store
Store formats vary—so do window sizes, countertop dimensions and compliance zones. Sending the same kit to every location results in waste or poor fit.

2. Manual Vendor Coordination Slows Execution
Without automation, signage routing depends on spreadsheets, email chains or delayed store requests.

3. Customization Goes Off-Brand
When stores are left to modify signs themselves, branding and legal elements often get lost or altered.

4. No Insight Into Rollout Status
Marketing can't tell which stores are using which signs—or if they launched the campaign at all.

How GearBox® by IRIS Solves the POS Signage Execution Problem

GearBox® by IRIS helps brands manage POS signage campaigns from design to delivery—by linking creative to store data.

With GearBox®, you can:

• Assign signage kits by location profile (store type, region, layout)
  
  
• Use editable templates that allow safe local customization (like store hours or franchise name)
  
  
• Lock design, legal and brand elements
  
  
• Route print and signage orders to approved vendors automatically
  
  
• Track fulfillment status, usage and campaign launch timing by store
  
  

It’s not just asset storage—it’s signage fulfillment logistics at scale.

Use Case: Applebee’s Routes POS Signage With GearBox®

Applebee’s regularly pushes out promotional signage across its restaurant network. But with varying store layouts and franchise partners, it needed structure.

With GearBox® by IRIS, they:

• Assigned signage kits based on restaurant format
  
  
• Locked branding and disclaimers, while enabling safe edits
  
  
• Routed signage directly to field locations through pre-approved vendors
  
  
• Tracked which stores received and displayed materials on time
  
  

Read the Applebee’s Case Study

It helped them maintain brand control across every restaurant—without slowing down execution.

Conclusion

POS signage might be the smallest part of a campaign—but it’s the one customers see up close. For brands that operate across regions, partners or franchises, getting it right requires structure.

GearBox® by IRIS provides that structure—assigning the right signage to the right store, enabling brand-safe customization and delivering it fast.

Talk to IRIS to manage your signage execution from campaign launch to in-store placement.